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what we need to do now is flesh out points of interest in sapporo, sendai, kanazawa, and fukuoka(i think we will day trip to hiroshima from here rather than osaka)
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Dec 3, 2022 11:54
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Has anyone had to help a friend who wanted to visit Japan with their tourist visa application? I have a friend who is Russian who I want to travel to Japan with. It seems pretty straight forward as they will be the ones financing the trip for themselves so a letter of guarantee is not necessary. 1) Does anyone know if there are any recent restrictions against Russian citizens in obtaining a Tourist Visa to Japan? 2) Has anyone gone through the process of helping a friend with their tourist visa application? - was it a straight forward process? Any documents they requested that they originally didn't?
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Dec 3, 2022 12:48
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KidDynamite posted:what we need to do now is flesh out points of interest in sapporo, sendai, kanazawa, and fukuoka(i think we will day trip to hiroshima from here rather than osaka) Kanazawa: Kenrokuen Garden is the must-see, there’s also a couple decent museums as well. Higashichaya District is also fun if not too crowded. Fukuoka: Go drink in Tenjin and parts nearby, Dazaifu Shrine and the Kyushu National Museum are great for daytime.
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Dec 3, 2022 13:10
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Busy Bee posted:Has anyone had to help a friend who wanted to visit Japan with their tourist visa application? I don't really know much about it but you could start by looking at this page https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/russia.html
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Dec 3, 2022 13:30
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KidDynamite posted:what we need to do now is flesh out points of interest in sapporo, sendai, kanazawa, and fukuoka(i think we will day trip to hiroshima from here rather than osaka) Fukuoka is great for food. I suggest going to https://ninoni.jp/ for happy hour then hit up a Yatai and get some ramen. If you know your hotel for Narita I can probably stop by there and take you out. The fancy hotels aren't near the city center though.
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Dec 3, 2022 22:53
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https://noma.dk/kyoto/ I guess the waitlist is very, very long already
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Dec 4, 2022 01:48
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It probably filled up on day one. Darn, wish I'd known about that, I should be in Kyoto for a day or two during that run.
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Dec 4, 2022 02:02
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KidDynamite posted:what we need to do now is flesh out points of interest in sapporo, sendai, kanazawa, and fukuoka(i think we will day trip to hiroshima from here rather than osaka) I lived in Kanazawa for 3 years so you can DM me if you have any questions.
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Dec 4, 2022 02:22
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I would also take recs for food and sake focused bars/izakaya in Kagoshima, Kumamoto, and Fukuoka. And a place for shochu, I haven't tried it much beyond making chuhais. Kobe too, I have the sake district of course but places with a good selection of bottles to try always welcome too. And I want to try some Kobe beef.
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Dec 4, 2022 02:22
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For shochu... Fukuoka: https://tabelog.com/fukuoka/A4001/A400104/40003371/ https://foodplace.jp/zubababa/ https://todoroki-saketen.com/ https://www.fukuoka-now.com/ja/food/japanese-salon-shizuku/ Kagoshima: https://bar-roku.com/ https://bar-ishizue.com/ (both run by the same people)
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Dec 4, 2022 03:09
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zmcnulty posted:Kagoshima: Nice, thanks. These are just a couple blocks from the hotel, excellent stumbling distance.
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Dec 4, 2022 03:24
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So outside of our planned time in Tokyo and Osaka (both of which we've seen before), right now we are planning 3 nights each in Fukuoka, Nagasaki and Kanazawa. Kind of a meaningless question, but is that enough time/too long in these places? I always stress about rushing but all the guides say 2 days for these cities. We'll be there end of feb/early march. Also thanks for the food and sake discussion, I'm taking notes.
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Dec 4, 2022 08:51
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You can both see plenty in Nagasaki city itself and also take some day trips north into the prefecture to see some more interesting sights. Fukuoka has plenty, and more ‘big city’ things. (Side note: when Japanese musicians make it big, they traditionally do a tour of the “five domes” - Sapporo, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka. Add in Sendai and you’ve basically got the major metro areas covered.) Depending on what you like, there can be more recommendations as well. I might be tempted to suggest renting a car for Nagasaki, depending on your willingness.
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Dec 4, 2022 11:47
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When I was driving around Japan there were a few times I had to go through tolls and could pay in cash. However, my friend told me that there are a few tolls where it's ETC only. I plan on going on a road trip from Tokyo to Mt Fuji soon and wondering if I should get an ETC setup in the car?
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Dec 4, 2022 23:44
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Busy Bee posted:When I was driving around Japan there were a few times I had to go through tolls and could pay in cash. However, my friend told me that there are a few tolls where it's ETC only. I plan on going on a road trip from Tokyo to Mt Fuji soon and wondering if I should get an ETC setup in the car? There will almost always be a cash option. Sometimes there are ETC-only entrances and exits but there will be a regular entrance/exit further down the road. But you can also rent an ETC card from the car rental company and that will save you time and probably money.
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Dec 5, 2022 00:16
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Inside of central Tokyo is basically all ETC, the on/off ramps don't even have gates. Countryside will have ETC and cash options.
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Dec 5, 2022 11:19
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My friends and I are going to be in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto in March; we all enjoy drinking. What is the best way of finding good bars? Preferably places that aren't too loud, and aren't tourist traps. Places with local poo poo would be ideal. Is there a uniquely Japanese type of drinking experience/bar that would be good to hit up? Also looking for suggestions for distilleries and sake breweries to visit/tour/sample.
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Dec 6, 2022 05:22
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No specifics but all those cities will be full of great izakaya places. Nothing beats a whisky highball and grilled chicken parts imo. I'll be stealing any recs dropped too lol
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Dec 6, 2022 05:35
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field balm posted:No specifics but all those cities will be full of great izakaya places. Nothing beats a whisky highball and grilled chicken parts imo. I'll be stealing any recs dropped too lol We have izakaya in Seattle, but I'll definitely be in for some Japanese ones. And I did conveyer belt sushi in Taiwan and it was pretty awesome and wildly cheap, I'm guessing it won't be nearly as cheap in Japan (I'm guessing the food in general in Japan is going to be waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyy more expensive than in Taiwan).
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Dec 6, 2022 05:45
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I haven't been to Taiwan but Japan is pretty cheap even with a normal exchange rate. In Kyoto most of the sake breweries are in Fushimi. Osaka doesn't have as much local stuff, but you're a quick hop over to Nara (I'd recommend Harushika if you go there) or to the Nada brewery area in Kobe.
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Dec 6, 2022 06:03
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Grand Fromage posted:I haven't been to Taiwan but Japan is pretty cheap even with a normal exchange rate. We're doing an overnight in Nara between Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto.
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Dec 6, 2022 06:04
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I've never had anything from Harushika I didn't like. The breweries are clustered together so you can wander around that neighborhood and drop in on several. Pre-covid most of them let you come in and sample, usually five for 500 yen. From what I've read a lot are still doing that.
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Dec 6, 2022 06:08
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My local conveyor sushi place is between 125 and 500 yen a plate, with the 380 and 500 price points being fatty tuna, crab, and uni. Everything else is 250 and under for two pieces.
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Dec 6, 2022 06:38
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Little smith is my go to bar. After 2 years they still remember me. Thanks Tokyo goon for taking me there
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Dec 6, 2022 08:32
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It’s an experience to walk into one of those little hole in the wall bars in the middle of nowhere and listen to the record scratch as you walk through the door for about 3 seconds as the existential terror of gaijin arriving in the bar hits people and the room goes silent Would recommend
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Dec 6, 2022 08:34
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eating out in japan is mostly cheap as hell
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Dec 6, 2022 08:50
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Ham Equity posted:My friends and I are going to be in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto in March; we all enjoy drinking. What is the best way of finding good bars? Preferably places that aren't too loud, and aren't tourist traps. Places with local poo poo would be ideal. Is there a uniquely Japanese type of drinking experience/bar that would be good to hit up? Honestly if you just turn off the main street, basically any place you go to will fit that bill. I honestly don't think there's a lot of places that I'd call "tourist traps" unless they're one of a few restaurants very close to either a huge tourist destination (e.g. Kinkakuji) or a very remote one (like on a mountain) but even then, I don't think they feel as "tourist trap" as places can in the West.
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Dec 6, 2022 17:42
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Yeah, I've always found Japan to be very fair to tourists. Exchange places don't gouge the hell out of you like in the US. You don't get secret English menus w/ inflated prices. People there just treat you with respect. As for the person asking about a chill bar: Pretty much any nightlife area has buildings that are just bars and bars and bars stacked on bars. Anything on the 2nd floor and up is usually fairly chill. I don't recommend it but there is a place in Umeda (Osaka) called Bar Big Face. We went there cuz I like Tiki drinks and it seemed to be the closest I could find. The owner speaks perfect English and went to Hawaii once so used that as a theme for a bar. He knows nothing of Tiki, though. The drinks were pricey and very weak. They tasted fine but that's why I don't recommend. If a drink costs $10+ it should have more than 1 oz of alcohol in it. But it was a chill place and we were the only ones there until about 15 mins before we left when another couple showed up.
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Dec 6, 2022 22:39
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Haven’t really seen many really tourist trapping places other than those stands in tsukiji or kuromon selling a stick if wagyu or king crab leg for ¥4000. Big chains with English menus might be a little more expensive than hole in the wall places but a lot more accessible. Speaking of, tourist heavy places feel weird rn. Way fewer to no mainland Chinese and a lot more SEA and SK folks. Virtue fucked around with this message at 13:32 on Dec 7, 2022 |
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Dec 7, 2022 01:27
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Breakfast at Sukiya Lunch at Hanamaru Dinner and drinks at Tanaka it's authentic
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Dec 7, 2022 04:58
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When I used to travel with the Japan Rail Pass, I would order it online -> have it shipped to my non Japanese address -> redeem it in Japan -> receive a paper pass and either reserve shinkansen tickets at the station or just pass through the gates on the local trains. But now it seems like you are able to reserve tickets online with the Japan Rail Pass? https://www.japanrailpass-reservation.net/ Has anyone used this feature before? It seems like I would have to purchase the Rail Pass directly from that website to open an account?
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Dec 7, 2022 10:52
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Tell you by the end of the month I’ll pick up my train pass Dec
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Dec 7, 2022 14:22
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If you happen to be in the right place/time in Osaka, one of the best places I found to chill with beer and food was a little spot we were recommended through a guy we met in some whiskey bar in Kyoto. Happened to be near our hotel so we checked it out and found some of the best bar food I've had. Dug into my photos and thankfully it had saved the location. Try Chitomo at 2 Chome-8-1 Nipponbashinishi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0004.
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Dec 7, 2022 14:41
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peanut posted:Breakfast at Sukiya
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Dec 7, 2022 20:49
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Busy Bee posted:When I used to travel with the Japan Rail Pass, I would order it online -> have it shipped to my non Japanese address -> redeem it in Japan -> receive a paper pass and either reserve shinkansen tickets at the station or just pass through the gates on the local trains. Yes, this is only if you buy it online directly from JR (or in Japan) and costs about $50 more than buying it from a reseller. If you buy it directly from JR you get a code or something which allows you to use their online reservation system and when you arrive in Japan you can pick up your reserved seat tickets you reserved on the website when you pick up the JR pass. Buying from a reseller is the same as the old system. Zettace fucked around with this message at 04:23 on Dec 8, 2022 |
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Dec 8, 2022 04:21
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Ham Equity posted:My friends and I are going to be in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto in March; we all enjoy drinking. What is the best way of finding good bars? Preferably places that aren't too loud, and aren't tourist traps. Places with local poo poo would be ideal. Is there a uniquely Japanese type of drinking experience/bar that would be good to hit up? https://reserve.suntory.co.jp/regis...4126d0315133513 Go do this in Osaka/Kyoto Most Japanese bars are going to have some sort of seating fee, so just keep that in mind if you want to go bar hopping.
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Dec 8, 2022 04:59
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Ned posted:https://reserve.suntory.co.jp/regis...4126d0315133513 How much is a typical seating fee? For that matter, how much is a beer in say Tokyo, vs. a glass of Suntory or a cocktail?
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Dec 8, 2022 05:06
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Yamazaki distillery tour is great.
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Dec 8, 2022 05:22
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Westjet announced direct flights from my city to Tokyo, which is exciting! But it's only in summer for now, and I would not choose summer to visit Japan at all. If I'm going to suffer those kinds of temps with that humidity, I'd rather just go back to Borneo where it's never really a choice. At least connections through Vancouver aren't that bad. Tried Seattle once, and it was a disaster.
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Dec 8, 2022 05:27
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Ham Equity posted:How much is a typical seating fee? For that matter, how much is a beer in say Tokyo, vs. a glass of Suntory or a cocktail?
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Dec 8, 2022 07:19
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